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Parks Replacement Bond

“I am very grateful to the voters of Portland for approving the bond measure. It will help meet crucial needs across our parks system, while remaining sensitive to Portlanders’ ability to pay,” says City Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz. “The funds from this bond won’t completely close the gap our parks and facilities face, but will make a major difference. I will continue looking at ways to address the needs of our parks system.”

Find out more about the passage of the 2014 Parks Replacement Bondhere.Next steps to be announced in 2015.

Q. Does the Parks Replacement Bond increase today’s tax rate?A. No. It replaces an expiring bond originally passed by voters in 1994 for park improvements. The bond measure has passed (November 4, 2014) and there would be no increase in parks property tax rates from what they are today - estimated at $0.0877 per $1,000 of assessed value. Parks property taxes for a household with a median assessed value of about $152,890 are approximately $1.09/month.

Q. Where will the money be spent?A. Funds are for urgent repairs and other capital costs, not park operations. The measure authorizes up to $68 million in general obligation bonds to make repairs and improvements and prevent more closures like we’ve seen at Couch playground and the Maple Trail in Forest Park. The bond will be subject to an oversight committee, annual reports, and audits.

Anticipated projects include, but are not limited to, fixing, improving:

10 to 20 play areas currently closed, at risk of closure, or deficient, including Couch, Creston, Kenton, Lents, Lynchview, North Park Blocks, Ventura